Electrical switch device.



W. F. HESSEL.

ELECIIIICAI swITCH DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.8| 1917 l gggsl Patented Mar. 11, 1919,.

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A TTORNEY WILLIAM F. HESSEL, 0F NEW' YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH DEVICE.

Maasai.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11,

Application led August 8, 1917. Serial No'. 185,026.

To all whom t may concern.'

'Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. I-InssnL, a citizen of the United States, residin in the county, city, and State of New Ygrk, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Switch Devices, of which the following is a specilication.`

My invention relates more particularly to 4electrical switch devices for connecting a plurality of branch lines to a main feed circuit in a convenient and expeditious manner. AAn embodiment of the principles of my invention, designed for particular use in Vconnection with the ship buildin industry, wherein it has been found desira le to provide a Aplurality of extension lights for affording illumination for separated por- Itions of a ships interior during its construction is illlustrated in the accompanying drawings. To meet these requirements it has been found desirable to provide an arrangement of switches of a portable character enabling a ready positioning and change of position as needed. Furthermore it isY desirable to afford accommodation for a maximum number of extension lightin circuits which may be quickly connected 111 the main circuit as circumstances may require.

tachable switch It is also desirable that the 'entire conducting parts of the switching instrumentalities be amply insulated and of such rugged construction as will withstand rough usage in the hands of workmen engaged in the form of occupation mentioned. v

The main obj ect therefore of my invention has been to meet the requirements-set forth by a device which is of simple and inexpensive construction and which possesses that desirable hi h degree of insulation, which is requiredg by the nature of such devices.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated by way of example certain preferred embodiments invention in which:

Figure lis a view in perspective of a portable switching unit partly broken away to show the interior construction and also illustrates in connection therewith a pair of deplugs which carry the eX- tension lights.

Flg. 2 is a vlew in vertical` cross section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1,. tov which has lbars will be molded' in of the principles of myl been addedpa sheet metaly steel protecting housing.

'Figs 3 and 4 are cross section views respectively of. modified forms of detachable switch plugs.

Referring to Fig. l, the feed wires of the main circuit are indicated by the numerals l and 2 each of which is detachably connected to a conducting bus bar 3. These bus bars are inthe illustrated embodiment two in number and are arranged in parallel relation to each other withm a segmental insulating block comprising parts 4, 5, and 6. This insulating block may be formed of any suitable insulating material such as hard rubber, substitute composition or even wood; of the latter I have found maple to be highly suitable for the purpose. These sections are grooved to accommodate the bus bars in such a manner as to entirely surround and insulate them, 4the sections being fastened together by means of screws 7 or other suitable fastening means. In the case of using a molded composition it is manifestthat the lace within va unitary block of the insulating material. y

The bus bars are perforated at 8 these holes being equally spaced at intervals for the accommodation of the split terminals of the detachable plugs which coperate'ther'ewith to cut in the extension lighting circuits. They insulating block is likewise provided with perforations 9, and 1() (see Figs. l and 2) in alinement with the perforations of the bus bars to enable these various connections to be accomplished.

The switch unit is formed in rectangular shape as shown so as to enable it to rest upon its own base assuming an uprightposition with the attached plugs, thus notnecessitating the fastening o f it to a sup ort. In this way the unit may be quie y trans ported from place to place as necessary or found desirable.

The number of'auxilia extension lighting circuits accommodate by the bus bar unlt ma It is deslrable, however, to afford means for connecting the maximum number necessary in a particular case and in this way the usefulness and flexibility of the unit is enhanced.

The afforded illumination for workmen at vary according to requirements.

l'the other extremit separated points within the hull of a ship under construction is accomplished vby use of the detachable plugs illustrated. Wires 11 and 12 of eachplug are connected at one extremity with the lamp (not shown) while (referring to Fig. 2) is fastened to one o the conductin members 13 and 14 respectively, these mem ers being embedded and held rigidly within the insulating block 15 with their split extremities extending therefrom to coperate with the v In order to make convenient the attachingv and detaching of the wires and conducting members I may form the plug block in two sections 17 and 18 (see Fig. 3) in which case I provide a socket in the member 18 to accommodate a detachable sleeved device 19 having screw threaded engagement at 20 with the upper extremity of the conducting member. Each conducting member is provided with an axial hole 21 for the accommodation of the bared portion of the wire as shown.

The screw threaded upper extremity of the conducting member is split so that the sleeve 19 when screwed down will causethe walls of the member to firmly grip the wire and hold it in place. Of course any other suitable detachable connecting means may' be employed to equal advantage and I therefore do not desire to be limited to the particular means shown. The sections 17 and 18 are fastened together by means of a screw 22 or other equivalent fastening device.

In order to fuse the extension circuit in a convenient and satisfactory manner I afford accommodation for a fuse'ofthe cartridge type within the insulating body of the plug. In Fig. 4, the handle is shown in sectional form. comprising sections 23, 24 and 25 and within sections 23 and 24 is formed a cavity 26 of suitable dimensions to accommodate the cartridge fuse 27. To hold the fuse in place I provide the conducting member 13 which in this instance is bisected into two parts, with the cup shaped receptacles 28 and 29 suitably fastened thereto and of metal having sufliclent spring to form close contact with the ends of the fuse. The

member 23 is fastened to the'member 24 by terfere with one another when the` plug is assembled. It is apparent' that by unloosening the screw 31 the member25 can be slid along the wires so that the wires 11 and 12 may be conveniently disconnected from the conducting members 13 and 14. By unloosening the screw 30 and removing this section access can be had to the fuse for inspection or replacement as found to be necessary.

In order to increase the ruggedness of the bus bar strip or unit and the separable plugs I provide them with sheet metal inclosing housings 32 and 33. (See Fig. 2.)' These sheet metal coverings enable the device to withstand greater accidental abuse and are particularly desirable when insulation of brittle or easily destroyed character is used.

While I have illustrated my invention as applied to a two wired system manifestly the principle thereof is applicable to a three or more wired system, mere duplication of the conducting parts being necessary.

While I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings preferred embodiments of the principles ofmy invention I have done so in an illustrative rather than a definitive sense and I therefore desire to' cover by the appended Claims those principles in whatever form they may find emodiment.

Having thusfdescribed my invention what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

1. A portable multiple tap switch base including a pair of spaced and substantially parallel metal bus bars` which have a solid formation and are of uniform cross section from end to end, said bus bars being provided at corresponding intervals throughout their length with transversely disposed parallel openings, and an elongated substantially rectangular insulating block formed of tough material and adapted to be shifted from place to place, said block completely housing the bus bars and being divided longitudinally into complemental sections which fit against the same from opposite sides, openings being provided in the block which register with the apertures of the bus bars and are adapted to direct the conducting arms of a detachable plug into the apertures ofthe bus bars, the base of the block being flat and serving to support the block in an upright position when it rests loosely upon a supporting surface. v

2. A portable switch base including a air of spaced and substantially parallel bus ars which have a solid formation and are of uniform cross section from end to end, said bus bars being provided at corresponding intervals throughout their length with transverse openings, and an elongated at based insulating block housing the bus bars and shielding them from engagement with any exterior object, said block being divided longitudinally into complemental sections which are fitted against the bus bars from opposite sides thereof, and being formed with open- @ings registering with the apertures of the bus bars and adapted to direct the conducting arms of a detachable pluginto engagement with the said apertures, an end block fitted against one end of the elongated insulating block and secured to the complemental sections thereof,` and insulated Wires entering the end block and detachably connected to the bus bars.

WILLAM F. HESSEL. 

